From the lower divisions of the Austrian league to the summit of English football, the story of Dominik Szoboszlai is indeed an inspiring one. The Hungarian came through the ranks at Liefering, the child club of RB Salzburg in Austria and quickly worked his way into becoming one of the parent club’s most important players in less than two years.
His career has now taken him to Liverpool, where he plays for one of the best teams in the world under an amazing manager who saw him as a perfect fit for an ageing midfielder. But who is Dominik Szoboszlai, and how did he rise to the top of world football in less than five years of his professional career?
This article delves into the key aspects of the Hungarian talent’s life, exploring his early years, family background, net worth, career, and more.
| Full Name | Dominik Szoboszlai |
| Place of Birth | Szekesfehervar, Hungary |
| Date of Birth | 25 October 2000 |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Current Teams | Liverpool |
| Year Joined | 2023 |
| Shirt Number | 8 |
| Height | 6ft1 |
Dominik Szoboszlai | Early Life
Although Szoboszlai was born in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, he spent the latter part of his childhood in Austria, where his father was playing at the time, mostly in the lower leagues. This explains his early ties with Liefering, the club from which he was signed by Red Bull Salzburg later in his life.
According to some close sources, Szoboszlai’s father started training him for football as early as three years ago. The father, whose name is Zsoft Szoboszlai, would make him make runs around some well-positioned plastic bottles in their backyard.
His father would also make him practice with golf balls, something his international teammate Bendeguz Bolla confirmed in an interview with a local sports company.
Dominik Szoboszlai | Family
Szoboszlai’s parents’ names are Zsanett and Zsoft Szoboszlai. His father was a professional footballer in his day, and before moving to Austria to play in the lower leagues, he played for Hungarian teams like Ferencvaros, MTK Budapest, and Videoton.
According to Sports Dunia, his mother, Zsanet, was also a professional handball player, so coming from a family with a rich history of sports helped Szoboszlai develop a love for sports at a very young age, especially with his father always making him train with his brother in their home.
The Liverpool midfielder has two siblings, a brother named Benedek, who’s a professional footballer at FC Liefering and plays as a striker for the team Szoboszlai’s career journey kicked off professionally.
His sister, Zsuzsanna, is a student, and she, alongside the other brother, maintains a relationship with their superstar brother, who now represents one of the best football clubs in the world.
Dominik Szoboszlai | Club Career
Youth Career
It all started at Videoton when a six-year-old Szoboszlai was enrolled in the youth team of the Hungarian club by his father, who was playing there at the time. Although Szoboszlai also trained at home, having access to better facilities at the club helped him improve his game, which set him up for his next youth club Fonix Gold, where he played from 2007 until 2015.
In 2015, the youngster moved to MTK Budapest, and two years later, after his family had moved to Austria, Szoboszlai joined the youth team of Red Bull Salzburg called Liefering, which played in the second division of the Austrian league.
Liefering
His senior debut came at Liefering in the 2017–2018 football season in a game against Kapfenberg. Two weeks later, Szoboszlai bagged his first senior goal for the club, and his incredible performance for Liefering earned him a call-up to the first team of RB Salzburg.
RB Salzburg
Dominik Szoboszlai moved to RB Salzburg from the club’s youth team in the second division and made his top-flight debut in May 2018 against Austrian giants Austria Wien. A few months later, the Hungarian-born midfielder was debuting in the UEFA Champions League, which was a dream come true for him.
Szoboszlai ended his career at the Austrian club in December 2020 when he decided to move to Germany to play for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. He had scored 26 goals in 83 appearances for the Austrian club at that point from the midfield position.
RB Leipzig
Szboszlai became the most expensive Hungarian with his move to RB Leipzig, as the German club paid a transfer fee in excess of $25 million for him. Sadly, he couldn’t play that season as he nursed a long-term injury, which kept him out for the rest of the season.
He made his debut in the following season and got his debut goal three minutes after coming into the German Cup tie against SV Sandhausen. He ended the 2021–22 season with six league goals in 31 appearances, a testament to his ability to find the back of the net from the midfield position.
He also won the DFB Pokal with RB Leipzig that season, making it a successful season for the Hungarian. His third and final season at the club was more or less the same, with Szoboszlai picking up his second DFB Pokal title and bagging 10 goals in all competitions from 46 appearances, with six of them coming in the Bundesliga.
Liverpool
With his consistent performances in Germany, Jurgen Klopp saw Szoboszlai as the perfect man to come and fill the hole left by the departing Jordan Henderson and James Milner in the heart of the Liverpool midfield. Liverpool triggered the Hungarian’s release clause, which was more than $70 million, and he debuted in Liverpool’s Premier League opener against rival Chelsea.
So far, Szboszlai has scored five goals in 28 appearances under Jurgen Klopp, with three of them coming in the Premier League. He’s now an important member of the current Liverpool side, and his ability to drive the ball forward remains a great asset for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
Dominik Szoboszlai | Sponsors and Endorsements
Dominik Szoboszlai doesn’t have any known sponsors or endorsements today, which could be attributed to his relatively young age and lack of popularity compared to other footballers of the same age. With his growing popularity, it’s only a matter of time before he starts receiving sponsorship deals, especially when he starts winning trophies with Liverpool.
Dominik Szoboszlai | Philanthropic Activities
The Hungarian has been involved in a few charitable activities, which highlights his kind and generous nature. He donated a huge sum to the local charity Cseppko Gyermekotthoni Kozpont with fellow Hungary international Adam Szalai.
One year later, he put up his shirt to the foundation to help raise money for the former Malgodi TC player Csaba Ponczok, who lost his life in 2022.
Dominik Szoboszlai | Records and Statistics
Despite being 23, Dominik Szoboszlai is well-decorated for a player his age, thanks to all the trophies he won with his former side RB Salzburg. He was a league champion four times in a row from 2017 to 2021, when he left the club for Germany. He also won the Austrian Cup three times in a row, from 2018 to 2021.
His trophy-laden career continued in Germany when he won the DFB Pokal with RB Leipzig in two of his three seasons at the club; 2021/22 and 2022/23.
| Teams | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB Leipzig | 91 | 20 | 22 |
| RB Salzburg | 83 | 26 | 34 |
| FC Liefering | 42 | 16 | 11 |
| Liverpool | 29 | 5 | 4 |
| Hungary | 38 | 10 | 0 |
In terms of numbers, Szoboszlai has raked in 245 appearances in all competitions for the four clubs he has played for professionally. In all those appearances, he has scored 67 goals, a reputable figure for a midfielder with a defined role.
Dominik Szoboszlai | Net Worth and Health
Players never make their earnings public, but from what Szoboszlai has earned from his time at Salzburg up until his Liverpool move, he is reported to be worth at least £11,588,720.
His £120,000-a-week contract at Liverpool will even be a major boost to his net worth in the coming years, considering he has a five-year long-term contract with the English club with the option of an extra year.
Dominik Szoboszlai | Cars and Tattoos
Going by his social media activities, Szoboszlai seems unenthusiastic about cars, as he doesn’t post them on his social media, especially Instagram. It’s generally believed that he is very modest and loves to lead a normal life, so whatever he drives is probably a regular car with no extravagance or flashy features.
While he is not a known car fanatic, he loves tattoos and has a few on his body. He has tattoos on both arms, with one of them reading, “Talent is given by God, but without sacrifice and determination, it’s worth nothing.”
Dominik Szoboszlai’s rise to stardom has been nothing short of spectacular. The Hungarian started with the roots of Hungarian football and is now playing for Liverpool, one of the best teams in England.
The 23-year-old could even win his first Premier League title with Liverpool this season, as Jurgen Klopp’s men sit at the top of the league table with a three-point advantage over Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
| 1. Why is Szoboszlai not playing? |
| Due to a hamstring injury at Anfield, he has been out of action since January |
| 2. Can Szoboszlai speak English? |
| He speaks fluent English and German apart from his mother tongue Hungarian |
| 3. Is Szoboszlai good? |
| Yes, in fact, he is one of those players who has a high work rate |
| 4. What type of midfielder is Szoboszlai? |
| Attacking midfielder with good dribbling skills |
